Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Third Session of the Fortieth Congress

Mr. Van Valkenburgh to Mr. Seward.

No. 119.]

Legation of the United States, Yokohama, November 20, 1868.

Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith inclosure No. 1, translation of a manifesto emanating from the Miyasama or acting northern Mikado, anathematizing the Prince of Satsuma as the rebel, and the author of the present convulsion in this country. The tone of that document furnishes the measure of the intensity of the hostility now prevailing between the principals in this civil strife, which, moreover, is fully borne out by the numbers of wounded southerners constantly arriving in Yedo, and also occasionally at this port.

An interesting feature in this document is the respectful reference to the Buddhist religion. It is well known that Satsuma and the Mikado’s court would be pleased to see it superseded by the Sinto creed, the oldest established religion in Japan, and which, during a long period in ancient times, contended with Buddhism for supremacy, until Gongendama, the founder of the Tycoonate, in order to put a stop to the quarrels between the priests of those two sects, which, occasionally threatened the peace in portions of the empire, ordered their amalgamation. Since then Buddhism, worshiped together with the emblem of Sintooism—a mirror, inviting examination of self, with white paper, symbolic of purity, behind it—gradually became the religion of Japan; and almost exclusively among the literary classes Confucianism was often ingrafted upon that creed.

I believe I am correctly informed that all the native converts to Christianity, without exception, previously were Buddhist worshipers; and hence it is surmised that this attempted revival of Sintooism on the part of Satsuma and his coadjutors, who are in possession of much better information than the Miyasama, has principally for object to check further proselytizing among the natives by both Roman Catholic and Protestant missionaries of different countries and denominations.

On the 16th instant, at a joint conference with the foreign representatives, for the purpose of discussing the opening of Yedo, strongly urged by the Mikado’s authorities, Higashi Kuse Chinjio made the unexpected announcement “that, on the Mikado’s birthday, (the 6th instant,) the two princes of Aidzu—that is, the prince and his adopted successor, a brother of the late Tycoon—marched out of their castle of Wakamatsu in dresses of ceremony, preceded by a large white flag on which was inscribed ‘surrender,’ and followed by a long procession of their retainers, also in dresses of ceremony, without swords and with heads shaven, and all surrendered to the Mikado’s forces. An officer of Satsuma was sent to take possession of the castle, which was delivered to him with all the arms, ammunition, &c. Three thousand men, women, and children had been besieged in that castle during twenty days, and they had no more rice nor firewood. The two princes were in a temple in the vicinity of that castle, awaiting the punishment to be awarded by the Mikado. One-half of the Mikado’s army was on their return to Yedo already, and the other half was sent after the Prince of Sendai. No great resistance was expected either from that Daimio or from the other northern princes still in arms.”

The foregoing is an official statement, made by the highest Mikado’s functionary at this port, with such perfect assurance that it is almost impossible to doubt its truth.

It would appear, therefore, that the war was over. This, unfortunately, I apprehend, will not be the case for some time. It is difficult to say, even if the above official statement be true, how long it will be before tranquillity and confidence shall have been restored among the people. In Shonai, I learn, the able-bodied men of all classes have learned their drill, and fight for their prince with cheerfulness, keeping a southern force, estimated at fifteen thousand men at least, besieged in the castle of Akita, on the northwest coast.

Yesterday I received the letter promised by Higashi Kuze Chinjio, informing me of the Mikado’s progress to Yedo, where he is expected to arrive on the 24th, passing through Kanagawa on the 22d instant. Foreigners of all nationalities being desired to abstain from using the tokaido during the passage of the train, I have informed our countrymen, through the consulate at this port, of the wish expressed, which I feel sure will be cheerfully complied with, as facilities for viewing that procession have been courteously extended to all by the Mikado’s authorities stationed here. I have this moment received a message from Higashi Kuze Chinjio, informing me that, owing to an overflow of a few streams, the Mikado’s progress had been delayed a day or two. There appears to be no doubt of his having actually left Kioto, as the original official announcement to that effect is confirmed by intelligence this day received from Hiogo by sea.

As for the other official announcement of the 16th instant, relating to Aidzu’s alleged surrender, I can only say, without passing judgment on the Higashi’s veracity, that it is not improbable he has either been grossly misled or carried away by partisan feelings. All reports received since that day would seem to indicate an entirely different state of things, and that, instead of Aidzu surrendering, his enemies, the southerners, are surrendering to him.

The reports from different quarters, though not by any means reliable, therefore, are quite unanimous in this respect, that they seem to show that the northerners are now slowly advancing on Yedo, both from the north and the east. Of this, at all events, there is no doubt, that since yesterday the southerners in Yedo are pulling down houses, occupying bridges and other positions in force, as if the capital might need to be defended.

From information I received, I am inclined to think that the snow has put an end to the campaign this year; that the southerners are now preparing to go into winter quarters, principally in Yedo, but that they will not be permitted to recruit in peace and comfort; though I do not believe, on the other hand, that the northerners are either in condition or sufficiently well armed at present to attempt driving their enemies out of the capital and back to their homes.

I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,

R. B. VAN VALKENBURGH.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

[Translation.]

There is nothing, in ancient or modern times, to compare with the outrageous deeds of the rehel Satsuma. He hronght disaster upon the Miya Sama, and caused severe punishment to he inflicted upon the guiltless Lord Jokugawa Yokinobu, who, being debarred from representing the injustice of the rebel, and while doing penance, came near being deprived of his life. The Miya Sama, considering the friendship between Yokinobu and himself, felt sympathy for him, and hastened, in the latter part of the 2d month, to proceed to Sumpu (Suruga) for the purpose of clearly pointing out to the Mikado’s envoy that the Lord Yokinobu was free from guilt. He saw the envoy, to whom he fully stated everything, and explained the occurrences at Fushimi, (battle in February last,) when Satsuma stepped in and told him, in the name of the Mikado, that Tokugawa Yokinobu would be liberally dealt with, and there should be no apprehension of his property and family rights, provided substantial proof of his submission be given. Although the Miya Sama placed no confidence in those assurances, which he knew would never be fulfilled, he returned to Yedo and fully communicated with the Lord Yokinobu. As it could not be proven that this was not the Mikado’s order, it was determined to comply. Yorkinobu accordingly surrendered to the Mikado’s court the castle, which had been in possession of Jokugawa since the days of their earliest ancestors, and withdrew to Mito. Arms, ships of war, &c., were also surrendered, and nothing, as far as in his power, was left undone to prove his submission to the Mikado’s court; and yet all this, notwithstanding a punishment as severe as that of a Mikado’s enemy was inflicted, and himself sent into exile. The Miya Sama, whose sympathy had proportionately increased, often addressed the Mikado’s representative in writing, urging a liberal treatment of Yokinobu, but in vain; by Satsuma’s interference those letters were intercepted, and never reached the representative.

Satsuma’s villany was not yet complete; the Miya Sama’s ability might succeed in defeating his schemes, and he determined to get him out of the way; he therefore urged his immediate departure from Yedo for Kioto.

And when the people of Yedo and the surrounding districts heard of this, they were deeply moved, and they memorialized the Miya Sama, entreating him not to go to Kioto. He was touched by their sincerity, and postponed his departure.

Then Satsuma, pretending to act under orders of the Mikado’s envoy, strongly urged him to take up his residence in the castle, where it was intended to keep him in confinement, but on the ground of illness compliance was declined. When many other contrivances to get rid of him had failed, Satsuma at last entered into agreement with Sanjo Sane Yorhi and others, and suddenly, on the fifteenth day of the fifth month, attacked Toeisan (Wuyeno) by force of arms, set fire, by means of shells, to Chindo and several other temples in which the sacred writings of the Mikados, under their autographs, were preserved, and also to the Miya Sama’s palace—murdered the priests and plundered their property, and, after thus fully satisfying their greed and cruelty, a vigorous search for the Miya Sama was made.

As Mikosau had already been occupied by the rebel troops, the Miya Sama had no other alternative than to go to Mutsu and Dewa, where the Daimios had solemnly entered into a defensive alliance. The dignity of the blood imperial notwithstanding, he was compelled to disguise himself in the garb of one of the lower classes, and to go to those distant provinces, where, after encountering the perils of the sea, and traveling over rough roads, he met those Daimios on whom he imposed the duty of putting down the rebel and purging the Mikado’s court of all his villanies.

By decree of the late Mikado the person of the Miya Sama was declared sacred. He is thoroughly devoted to his religious duties, and he intends, therefore, to relieve the people from their great suffering, in accordance with the principles of the Buddhist religion, which prescribe benevolence and forbearance under insult. The suffering the people are now enduring is solely owing to the rebel Satsuma, The Miya Sanaa, therefore, the bounds of forbearance having been overstepped, intends to destroy this rebel, and thereby to restore peace and happiness to the people.

The evil deeds of Satsuma have reached such a depth, that the sun may fall on the earth, and the ocean may dry up to the bottom, rather than that we should live in the same world with that rebel.

All are now called upon to prize the Miya Sama’s views, and gird up their loins, in order that the clouds by which the sun is now obscured be cleared up, and the Miya Sama may return to Toeisan, (in Yedo.)

This proclamation to all is issued with the object of acquainting the people with the Miya Sama’s views, that they may fully comprehend the true circumstances, lest they compare current events with those of former times, when a northern and southern Mikado’s court had a temporary coexistence.

Seventh month of Tatsu, (fourth year of Kuro.) (September, 1868.)

Office of the Council of Matsu Dewa and Etshingo.